Summer Road Trip Snacks

Whether you’re headed to the lake, beach, mountains or city, road trip season is officially here. With warm, sunny weather and kids out of school, summer is the perfect time to visit family and friends, see new sites or explore the great outdoors. While you’re packing the car, don’t forget the snacks. With nutritious food choices just an arm’s reach away, you can avoid energy crashes and keep morale high. Fill up the tank, turn on the tunes and get ready to hit the road with these healthy road trip snacks! 

Berries and Nuts:  Both loaded with nutrients, this delicious duo will please your sweet tooth and stomach. You can likely find both in rest stops or pack your own in the car. Nuts provide protein and healthy fats that will power you through long days of travel, while berries add natural sweetness and loads of healthful antioxidants. Blueberries have been shown to lower blood pressure and boost your mood, much needed potential benefits during stressful days of travel. 

Frozen Grapes:  Doubling as an icepack and a snack, frozen grapes are perfect for long summer trips. They’ll help keep your other snacks chilled in the cooler, and they are slower to eat as they melt in your mouth—a great distraction to pass travel time! At 104 calories per cup, this tasty little fruit contains healthful polyphenols such as quercetin, resveratrol and anthocyanins and has been linked to improvements in heart, brain and bone health. 

Peaches and Greek Yogurt:  Much akin to peaches and cream, this tasty pair is a cool and refreshing go-to summer snack. Choose plain, low-fat yogurt to limit added sugars, which can lead to energy crashes. Low-fat Greek yogurt packs 20 grams of protein per serving, and contains helpful probiotics that may improve intestinal health. Peaches are a summertime favorite fruit and have over 2 grams of fiber that, along with protein from yogurt, can help keep you full. 

Banana and Peanut Butter:  Bananas are perfect for road trips because there is no package needed. This tropical fruit is a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin C and manganese, all for just 110 calories. They’re also an excellent source of vitamin B6, which plays a vital role in metabolism and helps the brain and nervous system function. Check your stores for single serve peanut butter packs to keep portions under control and allow for easy cleanup. Two tablespoons of peanut butter provides 190 calories, 7 grams of protein and 14% of daily magnesium. 

Sliced Vegetables and Hummus:  Carrots, celery, bell peppers and cucumbers are suitable scoops for a bean-based dip. Look for single-serve hummus packs, or take a whole tub for the family to share. A bean-based dip carries protein and fiber. Fresh vegetables provide satisfying crunch without the added sodium of chips—which might help prevent unwanted headaches—and contain plenty of nutrients like vitamins A, C and K.